Posts Tagged ‘Maoism’

The short history over at the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) states their desire to be free from all political ideologies so that they can be free to pursue the defence of Civil Liberties in India. To add to this they say they do not accept funds from people other than their members, activists and office bearers.

When we look at this a little closer it is evident that they pursue the “defence” from a definite ideological stance that can only be said to be leftist. A case in point is this story which expresses dismay at the killing of Maoist (also known as Naxalites and Communists) leaders. The killing of these people may or may not have been extra-judicial but nowhere does the PUCL story identify the nature of the Maoists. They will not state anywhere that the Maoists are a terror organization which brooks no dissent. For some “light reading” click here. (If it makes you sick, blame the Communists.)

Where now does the PUCL claim of being free of ideology lie?

Objectively, nowhere.

Every human being if one observes carefully, has some guiding (or misguiding as the case may be) principles even if these principles are held subconciously. One can call this ideology or one can be more accurate and call it philosophy.

But look, and you will find behind every individual and every organization the moving force of philosophy. If that we not so, it would be possible for every human being to a perfectly good one moment, perfectly bad another. Every person a Jeckel and Hyde. In reality, this does not happen, people are more or less the same every day.

Some have a philosophy that improves human lives. In this category we can count the great artists, scientists and engineers. In others, such as Communists and Socialists, we find those who leave behind nothing more than war, devastation and dead bodies.

The only choice each of us has is to choose which philosophy we choose to follow. The Maoists/Socialists/Communists have chosen theirs and the rest of us would do well to recognize the fact and not be fooled by their protests of being non-ideological.